Door lock



April 22, 1958 E. L. SCHLAGE DOOR LOCK Filed Aug. 19, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. ERNEST L.SCHLAGE April 1958 E. L. SCHLAGE 2,831,336

DOOR LOCK Filed Aug. 19, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

INVENTOR.

ERNEST L. SCHLAGE BY @W M M April 1958 EL. SCHLAGE 2,831,336

DOOR LOCK Filed Aug. 19, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

ERNEST L.$CHLA6E Wm, WWW,

April 22, 1958 E. L. SCHLAGE DOOR LOCK 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 19, 1954 INVENTOR. ERNEST L. SCHLAGE- BY @ak MvZ ou-X April 22, 1958 E. L. SCHLAGE DOOR LOCK 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

Filed Aug. 19, 1954 4 INVENTOR. ERNEST L. SCHLAGE DOOR LOCK Ernest L. Schlage, Burlingame, Calif, assignor to Schlage Lock Company, a corporation Application August 19, 1954, Serial No. 450,966

Claims. (Cl. 70-146) This invention relates to door locks of the split spindle type such as shown in my co-pending application entitled Bearing and Spindle Structure for Door Locks, filed May 18, 1954, Serial No. 430,697 now Patent No. 2,795,447, issued June 11, 1957, and especially to a button actuated mechanism carried by the inner spindle and knob whereby the outer spindle and knob are locked against rotation.

The broad idea of locking the outer knob and spindle against rotation by means of a button actuated mechanism carried by the inner spindle and knob is old, see for instance, Patent No. 1,489,675 issued April 8, 1924, and Patent No. 1,796,727 issued March 18, 1931, and while the broad object of the present invention is the same, the main object is to provide a locking mechanism of this character which is particularly suitable for installation and operation in conjunction with the type of door lock shown in my co-pending application above referred to; another object of the invention is to simplify both construction and operation of the locking mechanism, and to provide a mechanism of this character which is reversible and as such lends itself to installation in both right and left-hand doors, and a further object is to provide a door lock of the character described which permits ready installation or removal of the locking mechanism depending upon the type of door in which the lock is to be installed.

The invention is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing all the parts of the door lock spread out and separated with relation to each other.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the lock showing it installed in a door, and

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line II1III, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the door lock partly broken away showing the latch in disengaged position with relation to the cheek on the retractor.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the friction latch engaged with the cheek on the retractor.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on line VI-Vl, Fig. 2

showing the latch bolt in projected position.

Fig. 7 is a section similar to Fig. 6 showing the latch bolt in retracted position, and

Fig. 8 is a vertical section of the outer knob and spindle showing key actuated means for releasing the locking mechanism.

Referring to the drawings in detail, AA indicates a lock housing which is divided longitudinally into two halves, see Fig. l, to facilitate placing and assembly of mechanism to be housed therein. Formed in each half of the housing is an opening 2 which has outwardly extending flanges 3-3 to form a spindle bearing. Also formed in each half of the housing are notches 4-4 which are provided for the reception of lugs 55 formed on a hearing plate generally indicated at B. The bearing plate has a circular bearing boss 7 formed on each side thereof, and on its forward edge a stop lug 8. The bearing plate atent also has a forwardly extending arm 9 formed thereon which carries a pin 10. The opposite faces of the bearing plate are flat to form a guide for a retractor hereinafter to be described.

The spindles employed are of tubular form as shown at C, and they are identical in construction. Each spindle has an extended portion 11 at its inner end to form a pair of shoulders 1212 which are engageable with the stop lug 8 to limit rotation of the spindles to approximately a quarter turn. Each spindle is also provided with a cross slot 14 adjacent the inner end to form a pair of shoulders 15-15 which function as roll-back members. Otherwise, each spindle is provided with a knob which may be secured on the respective spindles in any suitable manner.

The reference character I) indicates in general a latch bolt retractor. The retractor consists of a pair of spaced apart side plates 1717 joined at the rear by an end plate 18. The retractor straddles the bearing plate B and is provided with top and bottom flanges 19 which engage the flat opposed faces of the bearing plate, and as such guide the retractor when reciprocal movement is imparted thereto by the roll-back members. An elongated opening 16 is formed in each side plate 17 of the retractor, each opening being rounded at the forward end, as indicated at 20 to fit the contour or exterior of a spindle, and presents a vertical face 21 at the rear which is engaged or acted upon by the roll-back members as will hereinafter be described.

The roll-back members and the retractor are, of course, provided for the purpose of retracting a latch bolt indicated at 23, and a spring 24 returns the retractor and restores the latch bolt to extended position. The distance the latch bolt moves during retraction or extension should under usual conditions be no less than three eighths of an inch so as to insure engagement of the latch bolt with its keeper or striker plate when it is fully projected; this three eighths of an inch movement being essential to take care of the space between the edge of the door and the jamb, where a door is poorly fitted or where considerable shrinkage ha taken place between the door and the jamb. Where comparatively large diameter spindles are employed the required movement may be obtained by approximately a one-quarter turn of the knob, but where smaller diameter spindles are employed the required movement of the latch bolt cannot be obtained except by further rotation of the knob. In such cases and as here illustrated a movement multiplying lever is required and is interposed between the retractor and the latch bolt. Such a multiplying lever is generally indicated at E, Fig. l, and is also shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The multiplying lever is centrally pivoted on a pin 26 carried by the retractor D. A slot 27 is formed in the lower end of the multiplying lever and straddles pin 10 carried by arm 9. The upper end of the multiplying lever is similarly slotted and straddles a pin 28 carried by a slide member F which in turn carries the latch bolt 23. It may be said that the slide member is nothing but an extension of the latch bolt. It is formed from sheet metal in a manner similar to the retractor, as it consists of a pair of side sections 311 connected by an end plate 31 to which the latch bolt is secured.

The slide member F straddles a plate 32 which serves three functions, first, it is a support for one end of the spring 24, secondly, it is a guide for the slide member F and thirdly, it is provided with lugs 33 which secure the front end of the housing sections together when they are assembled.

By referring to Figs. 6 and 7, the operation of the retracting mechanism will be briefly described. When a spindle is rotated in one direction or another by its knob, one of the roll-back members 15 on the spindle will engage the vertical face 21 of the retractor D and force it rearwardly from the position shown in Fig. 6 to the position shown in Fig. 7. This movement of the retractor causes the multiplying lever to swing about pin it) to assume the position shown Fig. 7. During this movement the slide member F and the latch bolt 23 are retracted due to engagement of the upper slotted end of the multiplying lever with pin 28. The spring 24 is at the same time compressed and when the knob is released all parts will be restored to normal projected position as shown in Fig. 6.

Arm pins l 26 and 23 together with the multiplying lever may be entirely eliminated if a larger, for instance, one inch or more diameter spindle is employed, and the slide member F and the retractor D may then be made as a single unit, or the two units may be directly connected end to end when the roll-back members on a larger spindle impart the required movement.

The longitudinally divided housing sections, AA when assembled contain the following mechanism: the bearing plate B, the retractor D, the multiplying lever E, plate 32, spring 2.4 and the slide member F with the latch bolt 23 secured thereto. The two halves AA of the housing are rigidly secured with relation to each other when assembled, first by the plate 32 which carries the lugs 32-. These logs project through slots 33 formed in the respective halves of the housing. By bending or twisting the lugs the front ends of the housing sections become rigidly secured with relation to each other. Secondly, the rear end of each of the housing sections carries an end plate and each end plate a lug 35. These lugs project through slots 36 formed in the respective halves of the housing and when the lugs are bent or twisted the rear or inner ends of the housing sections become rigidly secured, and the bearing plate 3 becomes clamped between the housing sections as the lugs formed thereon project through the slots 4. These lugs are notched as at 5 at their outer ends and serve another function to-wit: that of guides for a pair of posts 40-49 hereinafter to be described.

A loci; of the type shown requires the drilling of two holes in the door in which it is to be installed; one hole as indicated at 41 which is drilled through the outer edge of the door and a second hole indicated at 42 (Fig. 2) which is drilled transversely or through the opposite faces of the door. The housing A with its contained mechanism is inserted in the hole 4-1 and when fully inserted the spindle receiving openings at the rear or inner end of the housing will assume a position centrally of the hole 42. The housing is secured by means of screws 43 extending through a face plate 4-4 suitably secured to the outer end of the housing. A clamping plate 45 carrying a pair of posts ie-4s is neat applied to the outer face of the door and in a position Where the posts align and pass through the notches formed in the lugs 5 of the bearing plate; the screws 46 carried by the posts 49 being first removed. A second clamping plate indicated at 47 is now applied to the opposite face of the door and in a position where holes 47 formed therein align with the posts, when the screws 56 may be inserted and screwed up tight, thus securing the clamping plates rigidly against the opposite faces of the door. Each clamping plate has a hub 48 formed thereon which functions as an outer or for each spindle, and each clamping plate may be covered with an ornamental escutcheon plate which may be snapped on or secured in any suitable manner. he that as it may, with the clamping plates in place and ecured the only other operation required to complete installation is to insert the respective spindles and the knobs which are attached thereto.

The loci; mechanism so far described is identical to the lock mechanism disclosed in my co-pending application heretofore referred to, and the only change required to permit installation or application of the locking or coupling mechanism forming the subject matter of this application is to form a cross shaped slot 57 in the bearing '4 plate and to slot the rear end of the retractor as indicated at 6%) to form a pair of checks 61 on each side thereof,

The locking mechanism comprises a fiat bar generally indicated at G, see Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The bar is comparatively wide midway of its length and this wide portion carries a pair of stop lugs 5tl5-9 and a slot 51 which is substantially covered with a detent or latch 52. The inner end of the bar has a head 53 (Fig. 2) to which is suitably secured a push button 54, said button having an annular which serves as a stop to limit outward movement with relation to the inner knob through which the button normally projects. The lugs 505l) on the ther hand limit inward movement of the bar. A head member 55 is formed on the other end of the bar and between heads 55 and 53 and the central wide portion the or is comparatively narrow, as indicated at 58. The bar when in place within the spindles normally assumes the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3, that is, the button end projects through the inner knob, the wide portion of the bar passes through the horizontal portion of the slot 5?, formed in the bearing plate B, and the head 55 assumes the position shown within the outer knob. The horizontal slot 57 in the bearing plate is as wide as the wide portion of the bar to permit the bar to pass therethrough. This slot, or in other words the bearing plate B, supports the bar midway of its length and it secures the bar against rotation at all times. The vertical port ion of the cross-shaped slot 57 provides space for movement of latch 52. The bar G also passes through a washer or disc generally indicated at H, see Figs. 1, 2 and 3 which will hereinafter be referred to as the coupler. The coupler H is suitably, but rigidly secured in the outer spindle, and in the coupler is formed a central. hole 59. large enough in diameter to permit the outer spindle and knob to rotate about the narrow portion 58 of the bar G. Again by referring to Fig. 1, it will be noted that slots 75 are formed in coupler H on opposite sides of the hole 55. These slots 75 permit the wide portion of the bar to enter, and when it does enter, the outer spindle and knob are coupled to the bar and as such are locked against rotation.

It was previously stated that when the m n p ats had been applied to the opposite faces of the door and secured, that the only other operation required to complete installation was to insert the locking mechanism, tc-wit: the bar G, and thereafter the spindles with their attached knobs. This is accomplished by aligning the head 55 of the bar G with the spindle receiving openings 2 in the housing A, and then pushing the bar G through these openings and the slot 57 in the bearing plate B. In so doing, the lugs 50-56 will engage the face of the bearing plate B and such engagement determines the correct position of the bar G before the spindles are applied. By referring to the perspective view of the retractor D in Fig. 1 (also see Figs. 6 and 7), it will be noted that the slots 60 formed in the side Walls thereof form two cheeks 61 on each side of the retractor. These checks, that is, the vertical edges 21 thereof, are engaged by the rollback members on the respective spindles and the cheeks also act as retainers for the friction latch 52 as will hereinafter be described.

With the locking bar in place, the spindles with their knobs attached may finally be inserted, but to do so, certain manipulation or positioning of the retractor. is necessary. By referring to Fig. 7, it will be noted that the latch bolt 23 is shown in its depressed position. In this position it is impossible to either insert or remove a spindle, however, by applying finger pressure to the end of the latch bolt, it is possible to further depress it and by doing so, the retractor D moves rearwardly until the openings 16 formed in the side walls 17 of the retractor permits a spindle to be inserted, that is, a spindle when inserted will pass though the bearing boss 48 of a clamp; ing plate 47 and the spindle receiving opening 2 ofthe housing A, but it i can enter no further, until finger pressure is applied to the latch bolt forcing it inwardly beyond its normal retracted position, as it is this further inward movement of the latch bolt which moves the retractor or the cheeks 61 formed on the retractor D far enough back to permit the inner end of the spindle to pass through the opening 16 formed in the side of the retractor and permits the inner end of the spindle to telescope over the bearing boss 7 when final movement of the spindle is stopped by the side face of the bearing plate B. By releasing finger pressure on the latch bolt, spring 24 returns it together with the retractor and connected mechanism to normal position as shown in Fig. 6 and the spindle which was just inserted is secured against removal. The means which secures the spindle against removal, see Figs. 1, 6 and 7, are the cheeks 61, as these cheeks enter the cross slot 14 (Fig. 1) of the spindle both in the fully projected and the depressed position of the latch bolt 23, see Figs. 6 and 7. It is only when the latch bolt is further depressed beyond its normal retracted position shown in Fig. 7 that the retractor is moved far enough to the rear to permit the cheeks 61 to clear the cross slots in the spindles, and in this position either spindle may be inserted or removed, but in all other positions the cheeks enter the cross slots of the spindles a sulficient distance to prevent removal. Again the cheeks serve as blocks to prevent insertion of the spindles, except when depressed be yond the position shown in Fig. 7. In view of the foregoing, it should be apparent that the inner spindle is applied by first slipping it over the button end of the locking bar, then positioning the retractor by over-depression of the latch bolt, which permits the spindle to be fully inserted, or to assume a position where its inner end engages the face of the bearing plate and the button protrudes from the outer face of the knob, then by releasing the latch bolt the retractor will move forward and the cheeks 61 will enter the cross slot of the spindle and secure it against removal.

The outer spindle with its knob attached is applied in the same manner, that is, by again depressing the latch bolt beyond its normal retracted position, so as to properly position the retractor. The spindle is then slipped over the head end 55 of the locking bar 6, care being taken at the same time to insure that the locking bar passes through the coupler H. When the inner end of the spindle contacts the face of the bearing plate, it is fully in serted and in position, and by releasing the latch bolt the retractor moves forward and the cheeks formed thereon enter the cross slot of the spindle and secures it against removal.

In actual operation the outer knob and spindle is locked against rotation by simply depressing the push button protruding from the face of the inner knob, such depression moves the locking bar inwardly and causes the latch 52 to engage the inner face of the cheek on the retractor, see Fig. 5; depression of the latch 52 being permitted while passing under the upper cheek 61 due to the slot 51 formed in the bar G. The bar G will remain in this position until the inner knob and spindle is rotated, as rotation will cause rearward movement of the retractor, and during this movement the upper cheek 61 on the retractor moves laterally and away from the latch, thus releasing it and permitting spring 62 to return the bar to normal position. When the bar is moved inwardly by depression of the button, the outer spindle and knob is locked against roration due to the fact that the wide outer end of the bar enters the slots 75 of the coupler H, on the other hand, when the bar is released and returned to normal position the wide portion is retracted from the slot and only the narrow portion of the bar remains, thus permitting rotation of the outer spindle and knob.

In emergency cases, for instance, when a child has locked itself in a room by depressing the push button, it is possible to restore the bar to normal or unlocked position by merely inserting a nail or stiff piece of wire in 6 the opening 64 formed in the center of the outer knob, then by aligning the nail with the head 55 of the bar and exerting a good push, latch 52 will yield and pass in under the cheek 61 of the retractor and as such will return to normal released position, thus uncoupling the outer spindle and knob and permitting rotation to open the door. The yielding of the latch 52 during such an operation is only possible because of the fact that the latch 52 is V-shaped, see Fig. 3, and is carried by a spring arm '66 (Fig. 1).

When installing the locking bar the carpenter or other mechanic doing the work might be puzzled as to whether the friction latch 52 on the bar should face up as shown in Figs. 2-and 3 ordown. It makes no difference as there is an upper and a lower cheek 61 on each side of the retracter. The bar is accordingly reversible, and the mechanic cannot make a mistake. The bar is also reversible end to end. For instance, if a left-hand door is to be fitted with a lock of this character, the installation will be the same as heretofore described, except that the locking bar will be inserted from the opposite direction or what would appear to be from the exterior face of the door. After insertion of the bar, the inner knob and spindle will be applied and so will the outer knob and spindle, the only thing being, that the spindles are reversed with relation in the position shown in the drawing. From the foregoing, it will be noted that the bar is reversible in four ways to-wit: end for end, and with the friction latch facing either up or down.

The locking bar G is movable longitudinally through the spindles C and the bearing plate B in either direction,

one way by the push button 54 and the other way by spring action when released by the retractor, or it may be moved in emergency by a release pin, or it may be moved by key actuated mechanism in the outer knob as will hereinafter be described. The'locking bar G when installed is non-rotatable, as it is secured against rotation by the slot 57 in the bearing plate B, hence, the bar functions as a coupling member, either to couple or uncouple the outer spindle and knob with relation to the bearing plate. When the spindle is uncoupled it is free to rotate, conversely, when coupled it is locked against rotation. Longitudinal movement of the bar is limited by the shoulders SID-50 on the bar in one direction, and by the annular flange (Fig. 2) on the push button in the other direction. The bar G is made of flat material to reduce weight, and thereby prevents the possibility of longitudinal movement and locking of the outer spindle if the door is slammed closed. If emergency or key unlocking is not desired, a solid outer knob will be used and the locking bar itself may be considerably shortened.

In some instances, it may be desirable to uncouple or unlock the outer knob by key actuation. In such cases, the outer knob may be provided with a key actuated mechanism such as shown in Fig. 8. In Fig. 8 C indicates a spindle in the outer end of which is suitably secured a pin tumbler cylinder unit generally indicated at 73 which is enclosed by a knob 71. The coupler H heretofore described is not required, but in place thereof a slotted coupler 72 is secured to the inner end of the cylinder plug.

In actual operation when the push button on the inner knob is depressed, bar G is moved inwardly until the latch 52 is engaged with one of the cheeks 61 of the retractor D. During this movement the outer end or head 55 of the bar G moves into the slot of coupler 72 and the spindle and knob 71 are accordingly locked or coupled against rotation. If it is desired to uncouple or unlock the outer knob and spindle, it is only necessary to insert a key such as shown at 70, insertion of the key immediately aligns the shear planes of the pin tumblers within the cylinder unit with the periphery of the plug and as such releases the cylinder plug for rotation relative to the cylinder. The coupler 72 and the bar G cannot rotate due to the fact that the bar is at all times secured against rotation; on the other hand, as the cylinder unit is free it is only necessary to grasp the knob 71 and rotate it together with the spindle C, and when the spindle rotates the roll-back member on its inner end causes retraction of the retractor, thus releasing latch 52 and permitting spring 62 to return the bar to normal unlocked position.

From the foregoing, it should be noted that the outer knob may be released either by an emergency pin or by key actuation. It may also be released by rotation of the inner knob and spindle, and it may be released by depression of the latch bolt, i. e. depression of the latch bolt either manually or by closing of the door causes retracting movement of the retractor D, and as such releases latch 52 with the result that the bar G is returned to normal position by spring 62. This is an important function as it makes it impossible for a person to lock him or herself out of a room. For instance, if a person should depress the button after opening the door to leave a room and then close the door in going out, it is obvious that engagement of the latch bolt with the striker plate will depress the latch bolt, and thus automatically restore the locking bar to normal position. Another important feature of the present invention is the fact that a base form of door lock is provided which may be used on a door such as a closet door or the like, where no form of locking mechanism is required. This base form of door lock may in turn be readily and quickly converted to a locking type of lock without any change in structure and without removing the lock from the door, as all that is necessary is to remove the spindles with their attached knobs and then to insert the locking bar and finally the spindles and knobs provided therefore.

I claim:

1. In a lock of the character described, a housing, an inner and an outer independently rotatable spindle one on each side of the housing, a retractor and a connected latch bolt in the housing, a roll-back member on the inner end of each spindle whereby the retractor is actuated to retract the latch bolt, a bar extending through the housing and into each spindle, means securing the bar against rotation, but permitting longitudinal movement of the bar, a coupling member in the outer spindle, means in the inner spindle for imparting longitudinal movement to the bar to engage it with the coupling member to lock the outer spindle against rotation, a depressable latch on the bar engageable with said retractor to retain the bar in coupling position, said bar extending through said outer spindle to a point adjacent the outer end thereof to permit manual urging of said bar away from said outer end for releasing said latch from the knob on said outer spindle.

2. In a lock of the character described, a housing, an inner and an outer independently rotatable spindle one on each side of the housing, a retractor and a connected latch bolt in the housing, a roll-back member on the inner end of each spindle whereby the retractor is actuated to retract the latch bolt, a bar extending through the housing and into each spindle, means securing the bar against rotation, but permitting longitudinal movement of the bar, a coupling member releasably secured to the outer spindle, means in the inner spindle for imparting longitudinal movement to the bar to engage it with the coupling member to lock the outer spindle against rotation, a depressable latch on the bar engageable with said retractor to retain the bar in coupling position, and key actuated means in the outer spindle for uncoupling the coupler from said outer spindle to permit rotation of the outer spindle.

3. In a lock having a fixed housing and independently rotatable coaxial inner and outer spindles, a bar extending axially within said spindles, means carried by said housing for securing said bar against rotation and permitting longitudinal movement thereof, a coupler secured to said outer spindle extending transversely thereof and provided with an opening for receiving said bar therein adjacent the centerline of said spindles for locking said outer spindle, means on opposite sides of said opening engageable by opposite sides of said bar for preventing rotation between said bar and said'coupler and means carried by said inner spindle for translating said bar relative to said coupler for locking and unlocking said outer spindle.

4. In a lock having a stationary housing and a latch bolt retractor reciprocable relative to said housing, inner and outer coaxial spindles for retracting said retractor, a locking bar extending axially within said spindles, a plate within said retractor fixedly secured to said housing and provided with an opening receiving said bar therethrough for preventing rotation of said bar while permitting longitudinal translation thereof, a coupling member carried by said outer spindle, means for so translating said bar into and out of locking relation with said coupling member for locking and unlocking said outer spindle.

5. In a lock having a stationary housing and a latch bolt retractor reciprocable relative to said housing, inner and outer coaxial spindles for retracting said retractor, a locking bar extending axially within said spindles, a plate within said retractor fixedly secured to said housing and provided with an opening receiving said bar therethrough for preventing rotation of said bar while permitting longitudinal translation thereof, a coupling member carried by said outer spindle, means for so translating said bar into and out of locking relation with said coupling member for locking and unlocking said outer spindle, latching means carried by said bar and projecting from one side thereof and operatively engageable with said retractor for holding said bar in locking engagement with said coupling member, said retractor being provided with a pair of opposed shoulders for so engaging said latching means in both reversed positions of said bar when said retractor is in normal extended position, said shoulder being disengaged from said retractor for releasing said latching means when said retractor is retracted.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,991,031 Schlage Feb. 12, 1935 2,299,180 Schlage Oct. 20, 1942 2,611,635 Cerf Sept. 23, 1952 2,633,732 Heizmann Apr. 7, 1953 2,669,474 Kanell Feb. 16, 1954 2,694,916 McConnell Nov. 23, 1954 

